Borussia Dortmund have requested Arsenal and Sokratis Papastathopoulos hold back from announcing his signing.

The Gunners have agreed a £16m fee with Dortmund for the Greece defender, who has also settled personal terms.

However, Kicker says BVB have asked the deal be delayed.

Dortmund do not want the transfer to go through until the next financial year, so nothing will be announced until July 1 at the earliest.

Arsenal will be in no rush, despite fans wanting to hear news, with the squad not due to report back for pre-season training until the week starting Monday, July 2.

With Greece not in action at the World Cup, that will mean Sokratis will be able to link up with his new teammates at the start of pre-season and will be able to take part in the trip to Singapore form the International Champions Cup